Playoffs are the Bury target

Ryman League Division One North

Bury Town 1

Ilford 0

WITH Bury's final ball invariably lacking that vital cutting edge, Ilford came within ten minutes of returning home with a share of the spoils.

With draws being cited by manager Richard Wilkins last week as the main source of Bury's woes, the victory is a welcome one atRam Meadow.

Wilkins said: “We are enjoying it. The league is a bit more physical, but not dirty. Players have better upper body strength at this level and that counts.”

Wilkins has had a busy week in the transfer market with striker Andrew Wood having been sold to Ridgeons League strugglers Diss Town after a period on loan to Mildenhall, and central defender Darren Coe has been secured on an 18-month contract from Cambridge City.

At the heart of the home defence, newcomer Coe had an ideal opportunity to get to know his colleagues, rarely being tested by the visiting attack whilst Calton, in goal, had the easiest of afternoons.

Bury continued the flowing football they had displayed the previous week but, despite numerous near misses, had not achieved the vital breakthrough by the interval.

After the break, Ilford's goal continued to lead a charmed life as the ball bounced around their goal area time after time. With the unlikeliest of draws starting to look a real possibility, a long cross ball from Summerscales in the 80th minute found Chaplin on the right. Leading his marker a merry dance in the corner, the winger sent in the perfect cross which Paynter flicked superbly high into the roof of the net past Hall. Soon after Chaplin might have made the score line look a little more realistic when he broke through the middle but his chip lacked the necessary loft and Hall collected comfortably.